I’ve given up everything for the chance to play major league baseball. Everything. Now I’m so close I can practically hear the crowd chanting my name. There’s nothing that could take my dream away from me . . .

Unless I lose focus. And Ainsley Burke is the most beautiful, distracting woman I’ve ever met. When I’m with her, I can’t think of anything else.

But no matter how much I want Ainsley, there’s no room for love in my game plan. I can give her a quick tour of the bases, but that’s it. Then I have to let her go. If she wants to think I’m a love ’em and leave ’em player, fine.

All dreams require sacrifice. I just wish this one didn’t mean tearing out my own heart.

Playlist:

Into You by Ariana Grande

Don’t Let Me Down- The Chainsmokers & Daya

Animals- Maroon 5

Treasure- Bruno Mars

This Summer’s Gonna Hurt Like A Motherfucker- Maroon 5

Want To Want Me – Jason Derulo

Where Are You Now – Skrillex & Justin Bieber

Can’t Stop the Feeling – Justin Timberlake

Dancing On My Own – Calum Scott

Treat You Better – Shawn Mendes

Let Me Love You – Ariana Grande, Lil Wayne

Constant Crush – Verite

Something to Believe In – young the giant

Can’t Stop The Feeling Justin Timberlake

Boyfriend – Tegan & Sara

The One – Kodaline

House Party – Sam Hunt

Sippin on Fire – Florida Georgia Line

Smoke – A Thousand Horses

Wild Child – Kenny Chesney

Girl Crush – Little Big Town

Humble and Kind – Tim McGraw

Break Up in a Small Town – Sam Hunt

I Met A Girl – William Michael Morgan

Die A Happy Man – Thomas Rhett

Record Year – Eric Church

Author Info:

Heidi is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author.

Originally from Portland, Oregon and raised in the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell, Buttercup and a Highland Westie/Mini Schnauzer, JiLL and her brother, Racicot.

When she isn’t writing one of the many stories planned for release, you’ll find her sitting courtside during either daughter’s basketball games.

Heidi’s first novel, Forever My Girl, is currently in production for a major motion picture.

Its 4:51AM CST. I am awake because I just finished reading this amazing book. Am I in a book hangover? Am I still drunk off this book? I have no idea, but I can tell you that this book was seriously amazing.

One thing I really enjoyed about this book was how the story kept moving at a good pace. Our characters go through a lot and normally, I wouldn’t like that. The reason it works for this story is that nothing is dredged on for too long. Its enough so that we know what is happening, we can feel the emotion, but then life keeps moving. As I read this story, it reminded me of when my mom will say “it sounds like life”, usually after I’m complaining about something. Yes, these characters have highs and lows, but life doesn’t stop because of them.

As a huge baseball fan (Go Twins!), I really enjoyed the environment of this story. I really loved that we see a lot of baseball in this story. The reason I mention this is that in other sports romances, it seems like we never see much of the sport. Only the funny sexual innuendos or other comedic references. I appreciated seeing Cooper being so dedicated to the game and everything he went through to get where he was. I think we see athletes and sort of forget all the sacrifices they make for the game they love.

In this story, Ainsley deals with a lot. I related to her character immensely. I thought the author wrote some of these tough scenes really beautifully, without torturing the character or readers.

This book was fantastic. I found myself smiling, blushing, crying, then smiling again, more tears, more laughing. I do have the book’s playlist above and now after reading this book, the playlist is so accurate. Just seeing the songs made me see how they fit right into the story and I doubt I’ll be able to hear them and not think of Cooper and Ainsley.

I can’t resist the baseball pun: this book is a Grand Slam! Heidi McLaughlin keeps readers on the edge of their seat, and even with a full count, bases loaded, in the bottom of the 9th, Cooper and Ainsley bring us the win we all need.